Empathy deepens or expands your level of feeling.
"Virtually all definitions and theories of empathy involve emotion (e.g., Batson et al., 2002; Davis, 1996; Duan, 2000; Eisenberg, 2002; Gillett, 1993; Greenson, 1960; Hoffman, 1985, 1987; Holm, 2001; Ickes, 1993, 1997),
either on the side of the empathizer (e.g., Batson et al., 2002; Greenson, 1960; Hoffman, 1985, 1987),
the side of the target (e.g., Ickes; 1993, 1997),
or both (e.g., Duan, 2000; Eisenberg, 2002; Gillett, 1993; Greenson, 1960).
Some researchers see empathy as a state in which the empathizer actually feels some of the target’s feelings (Eisenberg, 2002; Gillett, 1993; Greenson, 1960). For instance,
Greenson (1960) viewed empathy as sharing and experiencing the feelings of another person, and
Gillett (1993) argued that the empathizer feels the force of the target’s emotions. Also,
Holm (1996) regarded as part of the empathic process the ability to read one’s own feelings as a means of getting information of the other’s feelings.
Others see empathy more as a process of knowing the other’s mind (e.g., Ickes, 1993, 1997)."